Question for all of you

**baronmom** · 05-15-2006, 11:02 AM

Saturday we received a letter in the mail from my son's school. (he is 17) Apparently, he was with another student and they dropped a pair of binoculars into a creek. They were honest about it and told the teacher that yes, they did drop them in by accident. Now, here is where it gets good. We are being asked to pay for half the cost of a new pair. (we do not have a problem with this). My husband called the Asst. principal and asked more details of the incident. He then told her that we want the old broke binoculars and a copy of the receipt for the new ones before we will give them any money. She said we are being unreasonable. So, the teacher of the class then calls dh back and tells him the entire story of what happened. He tells her the same thing. That we would like to have the old ones (or at least 1/2 of them) if we are to pay for them. She agrees that it is a reasonable request, but since they are school property, she does not have that say. So, we have decided to contact the parents of the other student involved and tell them that we will gladly share possession of the binoculars with them and see what they have to say on the situation. I feel that we are totally within our rights to ask this. I mean if you take something back to the store and want to get a new one or replacement, the store that you bought the item from gets to keep the old one when they give your refund or new item.

**Kimberlina** · 05-15-2006, 12:10 PM

I'm a bit torn on this. I understand what you are saying on principle, but at the same time...why do you want the binoculars if they are no good? Do you think the school is trying to scam you? (Not asking that in a snarky way, just truly curious.)

In general, I think if you have to pay for something, you should get the item. We had a landlord who told us that we had destroyed the blinds. (We had not- we used them the regular way you use blinds and they worked perfectly.) We told them we would happily pay replacement costs, as long as they gave us the blinds. But.....this is a school your talking about, and your son admits to having ruined the binoculars. Or is there some question as to the real extent of the damage? Are the binoclars still usable?

OTOH, I don't see why the school should refuse to honor your request, unless the binoculars were not retrieved or they have no intention of retiring the originals. If they have them and they need to replace them, they should have no problem giving you the old ones and a receipt.

I'll be very interested in hearing how this plays out. Let us know.

**DorothyBeverly** · 05-15-2006, 12:20 PM

I do believe it is reasonable to request a receipt for the binoculars, but asking for the broken ones is a little strange, JMHO.

**baronmom** · 05-15-2006, 12:51 PM

Ok, let me clarify a little. We have had issues with the Asst. principal before. So it is in part because of this, but I do not believe that the binoculars can not be fixed. I just don't feel that if I have to pay for something, that they should be able to keep them. What happens if they decide to get them fixed after they get a new pair. Now they have gotten the money for the new pair and also have the other pair. I had to pay for a snow mobile that my son wrecked, and I certainly was not going to pay for it and let the people keep the sled on top of getting the money. It is the same principle. She even said that asking for a copy of the receipt for the new ones was unreasonable. Now how would you feel if you were charged one price only to find out that the item did not cost near what you were
charged. I just am tired of being taken advantage of. I just want to make sure that things are on the up and up. Oh, another thing, the teacher said that they only attempt that she made to "dry them out was to put them on a shelf in the sun. So that is why I feel that if they are taken apart properly and dryed it may be able to be fixed. I guess I just think differently on these situations. I just think that the school is not even trying to fix them, they just want them to be replaced without bothering to even try.

**nodmicks** · 05-15-2006, 12:53 PM

I personally think youare being reasonable.

**staceyy** · 05-15-2006, 01:01 PM

I think you're putting too much time and effort into stewing over this. I think you'll be paying a much higher price by fighting over it. I would pay and let it go. Think of how much time you're both wrestling over it in your mind, being mad, going back and forth with the school, typing it on this board and reading the responses.

**annertak** · 05-15-2006, 01:10 PM

I think you are well within your rights to ask for proof! Furthermore, since it is a school, their budget is public information, so you have every right to know where your money is going.

**fernykins** · 05-15-2006, 01:10 PM

I don't think you are being unreasonable. If you repace somehing on your car the machanic has to give you the old part. And a recipt...... I get one for everything.
Fern

**leezza** · 05-15-2006, 02:44 PM

Traci,

I agree with you, you want my money then you need to show me where it is going.

leezza

**Kimberlina** · 05-15-2006, 02:49 PM

Well, since you have had a problem with the school before, it makes a little more sense now. Otherwise I would probably just think, well, it's a school, and they can all use extra equipment and supplies, so I probably wouldn't quibble over it.

I never thought you were actually out of line to ask for those things, FWIW. I just don't know that I would have done it myself, based on the info from the first post. However, knowing now you have had problems with these people before, I can understand why you would insist upon getting the old ones and a recipt for new ones. Keep us updated and good luck!

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 05-15-2006, 02:52 PM

I agree also. Several years ago some of the guys who worked on my painting crew (have since left us) painted a 16' long 2' thick 6" wide piece of wood on a jobsite. This wood was supposed to be stained so by painting it was ruined. Contractor and owner charged me for a new piece of wood.No biggy I understood and had no problem paying. Did have a HUGE problem when owner wanted same piece of wood cut up and used as shelving. Piece of wood look very good in MY bedroom as painted shelf. Contractor had no problem when I started to load up wood. Owner went throught roof. I simply stated I had paid for the wood and it was mine.

Laurie in Bradenton

**PrairieRose** · 05-15-2006, 03:41 PM

I don't think you're wrong but I'm not sure it's worth the effort it might take to get them to do the right thing, or at least to me anyway.

**Lorri** · 05-15-2006, 10:08 PM

I would definately want a reciept and if I thought there was a chance the old item could be repaired I would want it also. We pay text book fees and lab fees here and I got frustrated when they charged me $6 each for book rental on a "Little Golden Book" at that time you could buy the books for .99. I understand the principal of the matter is what seems to be at stake here.

**sunnysideup** · 05-15-2006, 10:18 PM

I think at the very least you should be able to see a reciept before you pay them half. They should buy the binoculars first and then let you see what it cost them before you shell out any money. I think its odd that they thought it unreasonable for you to ask for proof of what they would have to pay. Maybe you could arrange to buy a pair from a store and split the cost and just give them to the school? I don't know if that would be an option, but then you would know exactly what you paid for and they would get a replacement. Just a thought.